I can't really speak for tablets, but an example I can give is with my 1st-gen Ipod Touch. Yes, it still plays music, but it seems most, if not all apps these days require a higher version of the iOS. I'm sure there are hacks or whatnot, but does the average Joe/Jane savvy enough not to brick their expensive toy?

But most of them are capable of getting updates from Apple themselves or at least finding out about them...

But most of them are capable of getting updates from Apple themselves or at least finding out about them...

I personally haven't done it myself, so I'm not sure how easy it would be to update the OS on a device when the device in question no longer seems to be supported for automatic updates. Does Joe/Jane Average want to figure it out?

The Age of the Ereader is drawing to a close. That's the drumbeat this week, after iSuppli pegged the year-over-year decline of reader sales at a staggering 36 percent. It makes sense; why get a fuddy little Kobo when there are cheap Kindle Fires aplenty to be had?

Turns out, plenty of reasons. Tablets are great, sure. But ereaders—in so many ways—are even better. Here's why.
...

I feel bad for the simple minded people who pen these articles. I can't imagine thinking that PCs, tablets, e-readers, and the like are static devices that come and go. It's much more fun to be able to follow the evolution of information and entertainment technology. The e-reader isn't a direct descendent of the scroll. It's a branch of the tree of personal computing. It evolved from laptops and evolved into tablets. It will not go away.

Wouldn't mind the billionaire part, but women definitely can be too thin.

At first I wanted to jump up and down and holler, "Don't you guys try and tell me about women!" Upon further reflection though, I realized that what I know about women which could take up a small city's library space is dwarfed by what I don't know about women, which would approach the Smithsonian's size for storage.

Further, remember the statement was by a woman, not a man.

Anyway, the real question here is whether tablets and phones and laptops can be too thin when they only have 3 to 10 hours of real usable battery life? And please don't add in so called standby.
I think that too much emphasis has been made on thin, and I think Apple is the main driver of that. Also Apple is the main beneficiary of this false "virtue."

I would like to see all devices with 24 solid hours of batter life. That would be three 8 hour days. If you look at the size of the battery in these devices, you realize that by adding 5 to 10mm to total thickness, you could achieve that.

Anyway, the real question here is whether tablets and phones and laptops can be too thin when they only have 3 to 10 hours of real usable battery life?

Why not? Would you actively use your tablet/phone for more than that in a normal day? A device rated at 8 hours for battery life is more than enough for normal usage as long as you're not afraid to plug it in before going to bed or for a heavy task (like streaming a movie to your TV or something), and let the screen sleep when you don't actually need it on.

Quote:

I would like to see all devices with 24 solid hours of batter life. That would be three 8 hour days. If you look at the size of the battery in these devices, you realize that by adding 5 to 10mm to total thickness, you could achieve that.

I am ok with that.

You'd be okay with adding 50% to, perhaps even doubling, the thickness (most tabs seem to be just under 1cm thick) and greatly increasing the weight? You'd be looking at a bit over 2lbs for a 10" tablet (perhaps even a full kilogram; at which point you might as well get a laptop instead) and probably closing in on 1 & 1/4 lbs (like 675g) for a 7".

I would like to see all devices with 24 solid hours of batter life. That would be three 8 hour days. If you look at the size of the battery in these devices, you realize that by adding 5 to 10mm to total thickness, you could achieve that.

I am ok with that.

Someone's already mentioned the weight increase, but I'd also be concerned about the charging time. Seeing as many tablets advertise 8-10 hours of life now, this would mean almost tripling the battery life, and I can't see it not doubling the charge time.

Why not? Would you actively use your tablet/phone for more than that in a normal day? A device rated at 8 hours for battery life is more than enough for normal usage as long as you're not afraid to plug it in before going to bed or for a heavy task (like streaming a movie to your TV or something), and let the screen sleep when you don't actually need it on.

You'd be okay with adding 50% to, perhaps even doubling, the thickness (most tabs seem to be just under 1cm thick) and greatly increasing the weight? You'd be looking at a bit over 2lbs for a 10" tablet (perhaps even a full kilogram; at which point you might as well get a laptop instead) and probably closing in on 1 & 1/4 lbs (like 675g) for a 7".

You make large false assumption on thickness, and on weight minor error (kg assumption). The current battery takes less than 50% of xy dimensions of (example) toshiba thrive 10.1 or iPad3 and is 0.2 inch (5mm) thick at .4 pound.
New battery double power would spread across entire tablet add only .1 inch and add .4 pound so even heavy thrive at 1.6# would weight 2# total, ipad3 would be 1.44# +.4 # for 1.84# total and .37" +.1+ for .47" or about 12 mm thick.

config of all tablet would change so shape of battery would differ and decrease above calculated thickness.
wgt might decrease with combined battery case

I feel bad for the simple minded people who pen these articles. I can't imagine thinking that PCs, tablets, e-readers, and the like are static devices that come and go. It's much more fun to be able to follow the evolution of information and entertainment technology. The e-reader isn't a direct descendent of the scroll. It's a branch of the tree of personal computing. It evolved from laptops and evolved into tablets. It will not go away.